City Hall, Capitol officials open talks

CEBU City Hall and Capitol officials led by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia met one another to discuss talking points on issues ranging from the 93-1 lot and the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda ownership disputes.

“Lami itrabaho og dili mag-away; dili magsige og kiniha-ay (It’s nice to work without conflicts; we need not file charges against each other). Hopefully, we can come up with an agreement,” Capitol consultant and spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda told reporters.

He said the “conflict points” in these issues were turned into “shared and common concerns.”

“We take into consideration the common good. If criticisms are thrown against one government unit, shame goes to the entire province,” Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda said another meeting between the city and provincial officials is scheduled on June 1.

He said the Capitol doesn’t want to evict settlers of lots covered under the Capitol’s 93-1 ordinance.

“All the province wants is to be properly compensated. We have no intention to evict them. We want these guys to own the places,” he said.

A lot-swap deal between the city government and the Capitol to resolve the 93-1 lot dispute went sour.

Then Vice Mayor Michael Rama claimed that the city will be disadvantaged when it trades a sizable portion of the North Reclamation Area (NRA) for lots owned by the province.

Garcia vowed to resolve the 93-1 lot before her tenure ends in 2013.

Sepulveda said the governor’s “word of honor” has been tested and proven.

“The governor’s word is this: as much as possible, she will be cooperating and assisting the city in all its concerns,” the Capitol spokesman said. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol